Straight knitting machine



' g- 1950 E. JTBERGER El'AL 2,519,875

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1948 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 X 59 9a39 50 i jfl' WITNESSES I INVEN TOR s: Emil l Bergez &,

Q. Q v I 'HawamiLWesfi, By W ['W Q ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 22, 1950 E. J. BERGER ETAL STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12,1948 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VENTORS 5% n \WN I N NvNRN WITNESSES i m mm Hmm A 70 5 Y B Aug. 22, 1950 E. .J. BERGER ETAL 2,519,875

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1948 ll Sheets-Sheet 3 FfCi 3.

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P f. INVENTORS'. 7 Emmi Beryezw Howard K Wesf, B y W A TTORNE YS.

2, 1950 E. J. BERGER ETAL 2,519,875

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1948 11 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTORS'. EzzzzZJI Bagel an [foam/MK M932,

ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 22, 1950 E. J. BERGER EI'AL 2,519,875

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1948 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VENTOR 1171171 5e1yep ward 1i M952;

%W. By WW TTORNEYS.

ITNESSES A 1950 E. J. BERGER ET'AL 2,519,875

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1948 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 5. 14672 W a Q 40 P d 39 j 5? I" W j a; 1 v r I w v; l

. INVENTOPS'. 522217 J. Berger & Howamff. W981,

W I TNESSE ATTORNEYS.

Aug 9 1950 E. J. BERGER rm, 2,519,875

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1948 11 Sheets-Sheet '7ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 22, *1950 E. J. BERGER ET AL STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE- 11Sheets-Sheet s 17 114 F1 Ja I Filed Feb. 12, 1948 WITNESSES Aug. 22;1950 .E. J. BERGE'R ETAL 2,519,875

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1948 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 fax vzg4Z1 WITNESSES I INVENTORS'.

0a. .W I f/fllI/dl'ili Wm;

BY W W W ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 22, 1950 E. J. BERGER ErAL 2,519,875

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1948 ll Sheets-Sheet l0 BY Wm ATTORNEYS.

22, 1950 E. J. BERGER EI'AL 2,519,875

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1948 1 11 Sheets-Sheet 11Patented Aug. 22, 1950 2,519,875 STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Emil J.Berger and Howard K. West, Lansdale,

Pa., assignors to Dexdale Hosiery Mills, Lansdale, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application February 12, 1948, Serial No. 7,807

7 Claims.

This invention relates to knitting machines, and has reference morespecifically to straight stocking knitting machines of the typedisclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,331,528 granted to Howard K. West, oneof the present applicants, on October 12, 1943, wherein a series ofcover points cooperate with beard-less hook needles in stitch formation.

In connection with a machine of the kind referred to, we aim to providemechanism whereby, upon startin of the machine, a welt bar isautomatically positioned in operative relation to the needles to receivethe first course of the knitting, and after its hooks have engaged theloops of such course, released to the pull Of a yielding draw oif means;and mechanism whereby the actuating means for the cover points isrendered inactive with said points positioned out of the way of theneedles and of the hooks of the welt bar during formation of the initialcourse of the knitting.

A further aim of our invention is to provide for the automaticretraction of the cover points from its normal operative relation to theneedles as the cam shaft is shifted in the narrowing phases of theknitting when loop transfer between adjacent needles is to take place.

Another object of our invention is to minimize frictional action of thestitch forming instrumentalities upon the knitting yarns to reducechaffing and ruptures, and. thereby enable the operation of the machinesat higher speeds and the employment of much finer yarns than heretoforepracticable.

How the foregoing and other important advantages are realized inpractice will appear from the following detailed description of theattached drawings wherein, Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of astraight knitting machine conveniently embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 shows the machine in top plan.

Fig. 3 is a broken out view in plan like Fig. 2 with certain partsomitted to expose parts which would otherwise be concealed.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a machine taken as indicated by theangled arrows IVIV in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross sectional views like Fig. 4 with various partsdifferently positioned.

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary views in cross r section corresponding toFigs. 5 and 6 with certain parts in still other positions.

Fig. 9 is a cross section like Figs. 4-6 showing how the cover pointsare withdrawn during the fashioning phases of the knitting.

Fig. 10 is a cross section taken as indicated by the angled arrows X--Xin Fig. 1 showing the welt bar positioned in readiness to receive theinitial course of the knitting.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary broken out view in plan looking as indicated bythe angled arrows XIXI in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a detailed section taken as indicated by the angled arrowsXII-XII in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a view in plan like Fig. 11 showing the welt bar with itshooks engaging the initial course of the knitting.

Fig. 14 is a detail view in cross section taken as indicated by theangled arrows XIVXIV in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary detail view in end elevation looking asindicated by the angled arrows XV-XV in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 16 is a detail section taken as indicated by the angled arrowsXVI-XVI in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. 17, 18 and 19 are detail views in section taken as indicatedrespectively by the angled arrows XVII-XVII, XVIII-XVIII and XIX-XIX inFigs. 2, 15 and 16.

Fig. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary detail cross section showing thecooperative stitch forming elements of our improved machine.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary view in elevation looking as indicated by theangled arrows XXI-XXI in Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken as indicatedby the angled arrows XXII-XXII in Fig. 21; and

Figs. 23-28 are fragmentary sectional views like Fig. 20 showing thestitch forming elements in successive positions which they assume duringa stitch forming cycle.

. The needle bar of the illustrated machine is actuated, throughinterposed connections (not-shown), from the cam shaft indicated at 3!,the needles 32 having the form of hooks as in the West patenthereinbefore mentioned.

Cooperative with the needles in the formation of the fabric loops arebutted sinkers 33 and auxiliary butted sinkers or dividers 34 which areslidable horizontally in individual transverse slots of the sinker head35, and therein retained by the usual verge plate 3:; and knockovers 31which are anchored in a bar 38 adapted to be actuated in the usual waythrough interposed connections (not shown) from the cam shaft 3|. Alsoas in the West patent supra, individual cover points 39 serve in lieu ofthe usual spring beards of the needles, these being secured in aseparate bar 40 with supporting arms 4! at opposite ends thereoffulcrumed on studs 42 projecting laterally from slides 43. At theirbottoms, the arms ll have arcuate notches 44 in concentric relation tothe fulcrum studs 42 to clear stop pins 65 on upwardly and inwardlyextending extensions 43a of the slides 43. By virtue of thisconstruction, the point bar it can be swung upwardly and outwardly as]indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 5 when access to the needles isdesired or necessary. By means of set screws 46 arranged to contact thepins 4 5, it is possible to accurately adjust the operative level of thepoints 39 relative to the needles as will be readily seen from Fig. 14.The slides '43 are confined to endwise movement in sleeve guides 4'!which are fulcrumed on a horizontal rock shaft 43 whereof the ends are'journalled'in the side frames 50 of the machine. In accordance with ourinvention, the slides 43 are connected by a horizontal tie bar 5!whereof the opposite ends are secured, as instanced in'Figs. l6 and i8,by screws 52 to blocks pendant fromfsaid slides through clearance slotsB ithe bottoms of the guides 4'1. The spring belts shown at-55 in Figs.2 and 3 have their ends secured at 58 to the tie bar 5| and are trainedabout pulleys 5'! on the front bed 58 connecting theside frames 53 atthe top to urge the slidestS'ihward of the machine and so maintainrollers 59 free 'on the studs 42 of the slides engaged with upstandingcam projections 66. In accordance with our invention the projections 62]are secured, with capacity for adjustment, to: the'tops of the sideframes 50. As shown,'the cam projections es have horizontal portions 690which, see Figs. 15 and 19 are slotted as at 6] for passage of theshanks of cap screws 52 which take laterally into the side frames 50.Adjustment is facilitated by means of set screws 63 which are threadedlyengaged in lugs affixed to the side frames and which bear against therear edges of the horizontal portions 60a of the cam projections 6i.- asbest seen in Fig. 15.

Clamped to the rock shaft 48 iFigs. l-fi) is a pendant arm 65 with aroller 56 thereon adapted to run in contact with the periph ry of arotarycam 61 on the cam shaft 3| during ordinary knitting, and incontact with the periphery of an adjacent cam 68 when said shaft is,shifted toward the observer in Figs. 4-6 for narrqwing. A spring lilpulls upon the arm 85 to. keep the roller Bil yieldingly engaged withthe cam (51 or the disk 68 as the case may, be. Thus by action of theparts just described, the rock shaft E8. is. oscillated with consequentimpartation of up and down movements to the cover oint bar, 40,. Asshown, the arm 65 is formed in two sections 65 and 652) which areconnected by a; knuckle joint with the pivot as II. The lower end of thesection 65a is slotted as at 7.2. to receive the upper end of section6522, and the two: are yield-ingly held in the normal relation in whichthey. are illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 7 by a spring H1. However, thisrelation of the sections 55a and 652) can be varied slightly to; changethe angularity of the guides 41 and hence of the slides 43 by adjustmentof a set screw (:3 which is threaded into the section 65c and whichengages the sec-- tion 65b somewhat above the pivot It as shown.

The required outward movements are imparted to the point bar 40 throughmechanism including a lever 15 which isfulc'rumed, at. 16. on a bearingbracket Tl 'afiixed at its/top to the bed as and at the bottom toa'suppiementn frame member 18. The upper arm of lever 15 contacts aroller supported by a plate 8i which is clamped between the bar 5:connecting the two guides 61 and to a block 32 (see Figs. 2 and 1'1),which is notched laterally to freely engage the rock shaft it. The bar5i is apertured and the plate 8| slotted as at 53 for passage of theshanks of cap screws which take into the block 62. It is thus possibleto adjust the roller 89 relative to the guides 4'1, such adjustmentbeing facilitated by a set screw 85 which is threaded into the block 82from the front and which bears against the rear edge of the plate 8i.The lower arm of lever 75 carries a roller 85 wherewith contacts theupper arm of another lever '8'! with fulcrum support at 88 onsupplemental frame 18, the lower arm of the latter lever in turncarrying a roller 93 which is adapted normally to run on a circularidling disk 51 on cam shaft 3i. When the cam shaft 35 is shifted endwisefor fashioning, another rotary cam 92 thereon is brought into the planeof the roller So to actuate the lever 8'1 with resultant impartation ofoutward movement to the slides 43 through the medium of the lever ":5 asand for a purposelater explained. 'The spring shown at9'3 acts upon thelever 87 to maintain the roller in engagement either with the disk 9| orthe cam 92 as the case may be.

From Figs. 1 and 4-8 it will be observed that lug '95 projects laterallyfrom the sections 650 of lever 65 immediately above the pivot l i, whichlug during the normal operation of said arm avoids the nose of a'tripelement 96 pivoted on the bracket 17. By means of a link 9?, the tripelement 96 is coupled with a short arm 98 afiixed to another rock shaft99 in the upper frontal part of the machine; A second short arm 163 (seealso Fig. 10) is in turn coupled by another link 10! with aspring-biased finger :92 on a rock shaft H13 in the lower frontal partof the machine adjacent a shaft IE4. This shaft I94 carries a cam drum,I05 with ratchet teeth iii-5 arranged to be picked intermittently bypawiing mechanism (not shown) said drum being provided with acampro'jecti'onlfl'l for actuating the finger l 02 as hereinafter noted.

In accordance, with our invention, the shanks of the needles 3 areswaged as at 32c and thereby spread to a width (see Figs. 21- and 22)substantiallyequal to that of the intervals between adjacent sinkers 33and dividers 34, and incidently hollowed out for considerable distancefor capacity to receive the tips of the points 39 incident to stitchformation. The sinkers 33 (Fig. 20-). have yarn receiving throats 3.3abut are devoid of. the usual forward tongue projections at the bottomand terminate at their front ends in substantially vertical edges 33b.The dividers 34 likewise have upper yarn receiving throats at 34a, butare devoid of the usual upper ni'os and are further characterized by:straight and substantially vertical edges .49 between said. receivingthroats and the usual lower throats 340. As usual, however, th dividers3 4 have forwardly projecting tongues 34d at the bottom. The points 39are longitudinally fluted as at 39 and, like the swaged portions 32 ofthe needle shanks, are made to a width substantially equal to that ofthe intervals between adjacent sinkers and dividers. The purpose andadvantages of these special constructions will also be later broughtout.

In order to facilitate application of the welt bar I09 (Figs. 10-13) forengagement of its hooks lit! with the starting course of each stockingblank, the machine is provided with supporting 5 mile III which arescrewed fast to the bed 58. Eorwardly projecting skids II2 attached toend extensions 39a. of the wel tbar I59 at the bottom are adapted torest on the rails II I and, as shown, are tapered in cross section todetermine slight downward tilting of the welt hooks III]. By cooperationwith the end extensions IBQaof the welt bar I09, fixed guards H4 alongthe outer sides of the rails I Ii, assist in guiding said bar as it isslid inwards of the machine toward the needles 32 as far as permitted byengagement of said end extensions with upstanding stop projections Il5aof a pair of retracting elements I which are disposedlongitudinally ofthe outer sides of said railsbetween the latter and the guards. Theelements'l I5 are constrained to endwise movement in slots H6 formed inlateral projections IIIa, H lb of the rails H! see Figs. 11 and 12, andare yieldingly drawn outward by tension springs I'I'I'. Qutward movementof the elements I I5 is limited by engagement of stop shoulders I'I-5bthereon with the lateral projections ills; of the rails I I I.

The welt bar I59 is automatically moved intooperative position as inFig. 10 relative to the needles 32 by means including a pair of thrustelements in the form of bars I25 which are arranged longitudinally ofthe inner sides of the rails III and normally rest on top of the bed 58as shcwn in Fig. 14 with stop shoulders I 26a at their bottom edgesengaged with the inner edge of said bed. The outer ends of the thrustbars I29 are pivotally co nected at I2I to arms I22 fixed to anotherrock shaft 1123 which has rotati've support in fixed bearing bracketsI24 on the bed 58. Also affixed to the shaft 523 is a crank arm I25;from which a hook element I 25 is hung. The spring at I2'i tends to keepthe hook element I26 normally withdrawn from the path of a lateral studI28 on the arm Idea of a lever I311 medially" fulcrumed on a fixedcenter I 3i. The lever I30 is subject to a spring I32 and its other armI- 3I lb carries a roller E33 arranged to be acted upon by anotherrotary cam I34 on cam shaft 3 I. Upon movement of the shaft socounterclockwise, a spring finger I35 thereon by cooperation with a pin'I36 "on the hook element E25 swings said element inward to engage withthe stud I28 of lever I 38. Thus, as the lever i529 is actuated by thecam I t l, the bars I28 are thrust inward as in Fig. 10 with the resultthat by coaction of sloped cam notches at i282) with fixed studs l3!extending laterally from the rails i I I, the forward ends of said barsare raised to engage the end projections Inert of the welt bar its frombehind. As the movement continues, the welt bar It!) is pushed inwarduntil the welt hooks I it are positioned between the needles 32 inreadiness to receive the first courses of fabric loops drawn by saidneedles. During the advance of the welt bar I59, a spring finger I38dispaces the inner end of the adjacent thrust bar I which in turncontacts one end of the welt bar I88 and shifts the latter so that theother end thereof bears against the contiguous guard IHI as in Fig. 11.In this way, the hooks II!) of the welt bar are accurately positioned oncenter with the. intervals between the needles 32. Each thrust bar 23 isprovided with a flexible projection I38 arranged to react with thecorresponding stud i 3 'i to limit the rise of the bar as it is thrustforward.

Qperation In preparation for the knitting of a. stocking blank, the weltbar its is slid inwardly on the rails l I. I; by hand untilit isintercepted byencounter of its end projections with the stops 5a of theretracting elements II5 which are normally held fully withdrawn by thesprings I'I'I. In being so placed, the uards H4 serve as guides toapproximately center the welt bar on the rails I I I in a manner whichwill be readily understood from Figs. 11 and 13 of the drawings. Themachine is thereupon started and the thrust bars I20 moved inward whenthe ratchet wheel I06 is *pawled to advance the cam rise I01 on drum I05beneath the finger I92 as in Fig. 5. In consequence, the finger i2 israised and through the link IBI and the arm Iilii causes impartation ofa partial anti-clockwise movement to the shaft 99 which is attended byactuation of the flexible finger I35 to shift the hook element 'l26 intothe path of the stud I22? on the: lever I33. Upon actuation of the leverI39 by the rotary cam I3 3, the hook element lid is drawn downward and,through the arm we and I22 on shaft I23", causes the thrust bars I23 tobe moved inward, with attendant advance of the Welt bar I09 to theposition in which it is shown in- Fig. 10. Lifting of the finger id; bythe rise l d! on drum I05 as just explained, is also attended byclockwise turning of the trip element from the normal position of Fig. lto the position of Fig. 5. Consequently, when the arm is moved byencounter of the hump Bid or rotary cam 61 with the roller 66, theprojection 95 on the section 65a of said arm is brought into contactwith the trip element 96 as in Figs. 6 and 8 to detain the upper section65a of said arm and so prevent operation of the point bar which willthereforeremain inactive in raised position out of the range of theneedles 32. Before completion of the current rotation of cam shaft 5i,the needles 32, the sinkers 33 and the dividers 35 will be operated andthe initial course C of the stocking blank formed over the hooks lid ofthe welt bar as in" Figs. 10 and 11 whereupon the ratchet IE6 is againpicked and the m5 rotativcly for advancement of its cam lug I ill frombe neath the finger H32. As the finger Hi2 drops, the shaft 99 will bereversely turned with resultant retraction of the flexible tongue Hi5from the hook element 25 and the latter withdrawnfrom the stud I28 ofthe roller arm i fi by the spring I21, whereby the trip element 96 isrestored to its normal position as in Fig. 4'. The spring Ill thereuponimmediately acts to re-set the sections 65a and iii-5b of the roller arm55 in their normal relationship in which they are illustrated in Fig. l.During the reverse turn of the shaft 95% as above, the thrust bars I29are restored to the normal position of Fig. 14 by in fluenceof thespring I2; onarm I22, and the welt bar I99 released to the action ofretracting elements H15. By the pull of the springs ill upon theelements M5, the welt bar It!) is drawn outward with its hooks engagingthe course C as in Figs. 13 and 14. From then on the knitting proceedsnorma ly until suiiicient fabric for the welt of a. stocking has beenknitted, whereupon the machine is stopped for turning of the welt in theusual way. However, at some time duringthe early stages of this phase ofthe knitting, the attendant is. obliged to connect the usual take up.straps Mil (Fig. 13) to the welt bar me before the shoulders II5b on thedetents H5 reach the lateral extension II is of the rails Iii.

In normal knitting, the needle bar 36 is moved up and down and in andout relative to the sinkersv and dividers d-ur-i-ng single rotationsofthe cam shaft 3t exactly the samemanner as I set forth in the Westpatent. The guides 41 are concurrently rocked about the shaft 48 as acenter to raise and lower the cover point bar 40 by action of the rotarycam 61 upon the roller arm 65. At the same time, the slides 43 whichcarry the cover point bar 43 are reciprocated longitudinally through themedium of the part by action of the rotary cam 9! upon the roller arm81. In Fig. 20, the cover points 39 are elevated to the maximum extent,the knock-overs 31 fully retracted, the needles 32 fully raised and thesinkers 33 fully advanced to sink freshly fed yarn Y between alternateneedles. With the needles still high, the cover points 33 descend to theposition of Fig. 23. In Fig. 24, the dividers 34 have been advanced tofurther apportion the yarn Y between the needles 32 and the latter movedlaterally into pressure contact with the cover points 39. In Fig. 25,the needles and the cover points 39 are moving down together in icontact with each other and at the same rate, the points passing downthrough the loops of a previously formed fabric course on the needleswith the sinkers and dividers still advanced and the kinks of thefreshly fed yarn Y still held in the sinker and divider throats. In Fig.26 the sinkers and dividers are fully retracted while the needles arestill moving down and receding from the cover points 39 which have begunto rise. Fig. 27 shows the needles 32 all the way down with the loops ofthe freshly laid yarn drawn through the loops of initial course C stillrestrained by the points which continue upward, with concurrent advanceof the knock-overs 31. Fig. 28 shows the completion of the titch formingcycle with the loops of the new fabric course pushed over the tops ofthe needles by the knockovers 31. It is to be particularly noted that atno time do the cover points 39 engage the usual presser edge at a,pressure contact between the needles and the points during the stitchformation being maintained through mutual yielding of these element madepossible by their inherent flexibility and novel construction. It is tobe especially noted further that while the sinkers 33 are beingadvanced, they are steadied by reason of the presence of the thickenedportions of the needle shanks and of the points 3-; between them and thetongues of the dividers as best seen in Figs. 26 and 21. Thi has theeffect of preventing vibration and attendant fatigue of the metal of thesinkers and dividers upon impact of their butts with the verge plate 38,thereby precluding ruptures and breakages of these elements such asfrequently occur in machines of ordinary construction. During retreat ofthe sinkers and dividers a the stitches are being drawn it will be seenthat by virtue of absence of the usual nebs of these elements, thefriction upon the yarn is reduced to a minimum. This is obviouslyadvantageous in that it precludes chafing and ruptures of the yarn, andthereby not only enables production of fabrics from very fine yarns, butfavors operation of the machine at higher speeds than practicalheretofore.

The hereinbefore described welt bar controlling mechanism, and the newsinkers and dividers per so, have been made the subjects of separateapplications.

Having discussed our invention, we claim:

1. In a straight knitting machine, a bar with a series of hook needles,a bar with needle-hook cover points to cooperate with the needles institch formation; supporting means forv the Point bar rockable about ahorizontal axis; means for rocking the point bar supporting meansincluding,

a. rotary cam; a spring biased follower arm arranged to be actuated bythe cam, said arm being formed in two sections connected by a knucklejoint; and means operative at predetermined times during the knitting tobreak the knuckle joint of the arm and to prevent its actuation by ingthe trip element into the path of the lug when actuation of the pointbar is to be prevented. V

3. The combination according to claim 1,- in which the knuckle jointbreaking means includes a trip element pivoted on a fixed center andhaving a nose normally out of the path of a projection on one of thesections of the follower arm beyond the knuckle pivot, and wherein themeans for operating the trip element moves it about its pivot to bringits nose into the path of the lug when actuation of the point bar is tobe prevented.

- 4. In a straight stocking knitting mach ne, a bar with a series ofhook needles; a bar with needle hook cover points to cooperate with theneedles in stitch formation; a substantially horizontal slide forsupporting the point bar; a guide for the slide fulcrumed foroscillatory movement about a horizontal axis; a fixed stop abutmentconstantly engaged by the slide to limit its inward movement in respectto the needles during normal knitting; means for yieldingly maintainingthe slide normally engaged with the stop abutment; means for oscillatingthe guide for movement of the cover points into and out of operativerelation to the needles in stitch formation; and means automaticallyoperative during fashioning phases of the machine to retract the slidefor withdrawal of the points, when in raised position, out of the way ofthe needles.

5. In a straight stocking knitting machine, a bar with a series of hookneedles; a bar with needle hook cover points to cooperate with theneedles in stitch formation; a substantially horizontal slide forsupporting the point bar; a guide for the slide fulcrumed foroscillatory movement about a horizontal axis; a fixed stop abutmentnormally engaged by the slide to limit its inward movement in respect tothe needles; means for yieldingly maintaining the slide engaged with thestop abutment; means for oscillating the guide for movement of thepoints into and out of operative relation to the needles in stitchformation, including a follower arm, and an endwise shiftable shaft witha rotary cam thereon for normally actuating the follower arm; and meansautomatically operative during fashioning phases when the shaft isshifted to move the cam out of the plane of the follower arm, includinga rocker arm and another rotary cam on the cam shaft moved into the pathof the rocker arm to actuate it when said shaft is shifted as aforesaid.

6. In a straight knitting machine, a bar with a series of book needles;means for imparting up and down and press movements to the needle bar; abar with a corresponding series of flexible needle hook cover points;and means operative during each stitch forming cycle to move the pointbar from a retracted position for presentation of its points, withfreedom to yield, at

sinkers in stitch formation, said needles havin 10 shank portions equalin width to that of the intervals between sinkers; and a series ofvertically-movable needle hook cover points likewise of a widthcorresponding to that of the intervals between sinkers, whereby as theneedles and the cover points are moved into cooperative relation and thesinkers are slurred forwardly, the sinkers are prevented from vibratingupon impact of their butts with the verge plate.

EMIL J. BERGER. HOWARD K. WEST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,770,578 Lohs July 15, 19302,007,798 Gastrich July 9, 1935 2,195,907 Verbeek Apr. 2, 1940 2,331,528West Oct. 12, 1943 2,431,160 Bitzer Nov. 18, 1947

